Theatresports a type of theatre was developed by director Keith Johnstone in 1977. It is an impromptu, developmental type drama process, where opposing teams can perform scenes based on audience suggestions. The audiences are often drawn into the drama by becoming involved in tasks such as giving ratings, or there can be a panel of judges who are usually trained improvisers themselves.

The Development of Theatre Sports

Johnstone developed the idea for Theatresports when he observed techniques used in professional wrestling. To encourage audience participation in the drama and to stimulate audience reaction, various engaging strategies were used. The strategy of encouraging excited enthusiastic audience participation he called "generating heat. "

Keith Johnstone is a professor emeritus at the University of Calgary, and a founding Artistic Director of the Loose Moose Theatre. He has written many plays and directed in several theatres internationally. He is considered "... one of the few internationally recognized teachers of improvisation, most of which he created...," according to BBC Radio Four, February 2003.